Eagan, Minnesota — Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota became the latest House Democrat to call on President Biden to stop campaigning for a second term. Unstable debate performance In a statement last week, she said there had been a “lack of forceful response.”
“This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but there is too much at stake to jeopardize President Donald Trump's reelection,” Craig said in a statement Saturday morning. “That is why I respectfully ask President Biden to step down as the Democratic nominee for a second term as president and allow a new generation of leaders to move forward.”
“I was surprised and at the same time not surprised,” said David Schultz, a professor of political science and law at Hamline University.
David Schultz noted that Craig represents a key battleground district, and moderate Democrats across the country are concerned that having Biden on the shortlist could hurt their own reelection chances, he said.
Craig represents Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District, covering the southern Twin Cities metropolitan area and Lakeville, Eagan, and Northfield — One of five House Democrats who called on Biden to step down. Congressman Lloyd Doggett of Texas He was the first Democrat to call on Biden to drop out of the race, followed by Reps. Raul Grijalva, Seth Moulton and Mike Quigley.
In a statement, Craig said he had “great respect” for the president, but after watching the debate, he said, “That, combined with the President's own lack of a strong post-debate response, leaves me unconvinced the President can effectively campaign and defeat Donald Trump.”
Biden, 81, has spent the past week trying to ease concerns among voters and members of his own party about whether he is fit for a second term. He has repeatedly said: Keep competingin spite of Some new polls It is clear that he is lagging far behind former President Donald Trump both nationally and in battleground states.
“Right now, I think there's a 50 percent chance, maybe even more, that the wall of support for him is literally going to come crashing down over the weekend,” Schultz said.
But Craig said in a statement, “If we truly believe that Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans must be stopped, we have only a short time left to secure the candidate best suited to make that case and win. The future of this country is bigger than any one of us. From here on out, it's up to the President.”
Schultz said that if Biden were to withdraw, he would have to declare that he was no longer the candidate.
The president will then release the delegates for the Democratic National Convention.
Schultz said Biden would either urge delegates to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris or let them decide freely who they would support.
Schultz said he sees growing pressure for Biden to step down and that it is in Democrats' best interest for Biden to act sooner rather than later.
“If he continues to resist that, it will cause further confusion and division within the party,” Schultz said.
On Wednesday night, Biden Meeting with the Democratic Governors Coalition Afterward, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said Biden was “a big supporter of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of the United States.” “Suitable for the office” And he pledged his support.
Biden: Campaign Cancelled Speaking in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Friday, Trump reiterated that he will not be ousted as the Democratic presidential nominee.
and, interview During a debate with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos on Friday, the president claimed the debate was a “terrible episode” and that he had a cold and was “feeling terrible,” adding that the only reason he could be sure he might lose to Trump was if “God Almighty” came down and told him so.
After the debate, the University of Virginia's “Sabato Crystal Ball” Election Predictorflipped Minnesota from “strong Democrat” to “leaning Democratic” in this presidential election, making the state more competitive than it was four years ago.
